NZTrioâs popular Loft Series returns to Auckland in 2017, featuring new commissions amongst an eclectic mix of old and new musical masterpieces, with Swoop in May, Spiral in August and Soar in November. Expect an intimate setting in Q Theatreâs loft space, great acoustics, top calibre talent, custom cocktails, and friendly company. Following violinist Justine Cormackâs final Loft concert with the Trio in May, surprise guest musicians will join the NZTrio in the remaining two Loft Series.

Loft 1: Swoop marks the end of an era for NZTrio, being the last public performance in Auckland of the âoriginal crewâ before Justine Cormackâs departure from the group, after 15 years together. This concert offers both a rigorous and soothing programme, converging sweeping nostalgia (Frank Bridge) with epic legends of faraway lands (Shen Nalin) and honeyed sonic hues (Chris Gendall), before a magnificent - albeit final - curtain (Franz Schubert).

Loft 2: Spiral includes a new commission from New Zealand composer Samuel Holloway, who describes his piece as âa bold and obsessive exploration of selfâ. This collection of works is packed with introspective character (Arnold Bax), unseen currents of strength and depth (Jenny McLeod), and teetering precipices from which to safely test boundaries (Ludwig van Beethoven).

Loft 3: Soar prepares us for new heights and perspectives. Weaving through changing tapestries, youâll find yourself adrift in daydreams (John Ireland) where lifeâs complexity is seemingly simplified (Anthony Ritchie), primordial soundscapes pacify (Dorothy Ker), and naivety is blissfully deliberate like a game of hide and seek (Franz Schubert).